Biosynthetic Micro-Robot Will Combine Cells, Electronics

Cyberplasm is a multi-cellular micro-robot being developed by British and American researchers with the principles of synthetic biology.

It will combine biomimicry of some of a sea lamprey's behaviors with engineered cellular devices, electronics, and new methods of communicating between biological and electronic components. If this artificial organism looked like a human, we'd call it an android.

Perhaps the most amazing part of this research is the tightly coupled integration and communication the researchers want to design in between the micro-bot's electronic and biological components. On the cellular level, the team will integrate certain gene parts into bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells so they can perform functions usually done by electronic devices. Bacteria and cells will be simplified so they can more easily communicate with electronic devices.

The Cyberplasm micro-robot will combine engineered cellular devices, electronics, and new methods of communicating between biological and electronic components, such as between muscles and the nervous system. (Source: Cyberplasm Project)

The researchers will then develop I/O mechanisms so the engineered cells and bacteria can interface to the 'bot's electronics. This will be done using genetic engineering to change the way cells and bacteria operate so their data can be read by electronics.

The 1-mm long Cyberplasm's microprocessor will generate signals that drive the robot's engineered synthetic muscles, derived from mouse cells, which will mimic the snake-like movements of a sea lamprey. Engineered synthetic sensors derived from yeast cells will detect signals from the 'bot's environment, which will then be processed by its electronic nervous system. The electronics will be powered by an internal microbial fuel cell.

The micro-bot's muscle cells will be engineered for the minimum of cellular machinery needed for functioning. Muscles will be powered like biological cells, using mitochondria to convert glucose to ATP, combining actuation with power generation. The 'bot will be equipped with chemical-detecting and light-detecting sensors.

The resarch team has two basic purposes for creating Cyberplasm. The first is fundamental research in the integration of bacteria into fuel cells, as well as the integration of yeast and mammal cells into biologically engineered sensor and actuator devices. There are also several longer-term applications. In healthcare, the sensing abilities of such tiny machines could be useful in drug delivery systems and biosensors. Cyberplasm's underwater chemical sensing abilities could also be used to detect mines and other unexploded ordnance, or find pollutants.

With funding from the National Science Foundation, the team is still defining the robot's individual components. It may take another five years to optimize the subsystems and integrate them all into one working system. The research team includes Christopher Voigt, associate professor of biological engineering at MIT; Daniel Frankel, a chemical engineer at Newcastle University; Joseph Ayers, professor of neurophysiology at Northeastern University; Yong-Bin Kim, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University; and Vladimir Parpura, associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ann--I really did not state my comments too well. What I really meant to say was projects like this one represent efforts considerably more worthwhile than ones we sometime see receiving funding; i.e. "promoting specialty shampoo for dogs", "how golfers might benefit from using their imagination", "prom week"--a game that allows taxpayers to relive their prom night, etc. You get the picture. Each year Tom Coburn publishes his "Wastebook" series that lists the most egregious earmarks. Projects we can all probably live without. The biosynthetic micro project is one example of a long-term project well worth the effort and one which will probably produce results that can actually benefit individuals. I think NSF does a commendable job and provides significant value added to science and technology in general. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to restate my message. Again, great article.

bobjengr, glad you enjoyed the article. This is multi-national research, not confined to the US, and the funding source is the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has a long history of science funding and support. I'm curious why you think this should be funded by the government and/or private enterprise?

I don't want to get political but this is exactly the technology our federal government and private enterprise should be funding. This technology has the prospect of making better the lives of individuals with disabilities and those with disabilities resulting from accidents. The very thought of being able to communicate in this fashion must be very exciting to those researchers involved. Excellent article Ann.

Beth, mrdon is right: the lamprey was chosen for its swimming motions that the robot will emulate. Cell-to-cell communication is a project goal, and not particularly related to the choice of animal model.

Hi Beth, No sure about the cell to cell communication but I envision the movement of the biosynthetic micro-robot to be that of the sea lamprey which is a long side to side propulsion of travel. Just guessing!

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